Anthony, Ryan Neil has definitely moved beyond what his master taught him, applying the immense foundation of knowledge he gained from him toward developing a North American style, inspired by wild trees. In the apprentice system, you are expected to teach as part of your training. As in medicine, once you've mastered a skill, you're expected to teach it to others, and even when you're done with your training, the learning (and the teaching) never stops.
I do know you 2 well enough by now.
Oh no. Not just for bonsai,but everything. I have all the answers just some aren't what most people look for.
Rereading what you wrote...I don't understand your reply. Was this post more of a riddle me this sort of post? 
I don't exhibit to show off. I am artist to my soul. Exhibiting allows me to share my art with others and to appreciate and learn from other art. It's hard to explain but when I involve others in my art it brings me satisifaction.
Dan Robinson must be laughing his ass off.
I never said Ryan was the only one with that vision, but he is certainly a major contributor and promoter of the movement.
I love this and agree with it's sentiment whole heartedly, though I suspect Anthony will disagree with your use of the word "artist". Hey, at least you and I get to do more then water and weed trees somebody else designed.
Nope, not at all. I honestly avoid arguments at this point in my internet career. Still, I have found your viewpoints on art and bonsai in its totality as a hobby, art, and profession, as expressed here, to be very restrictive to say the least. I found your comments "only watering and weeding" to really highlight the difference your approach to and experience in bonsai is compared to almost everyone else, excluding first year apprentices in Japan.Nope, sorry @Dav4 ,
no disagreement there.
And I have no problems just watering and weeding, I get to think.
Now was that a try at getting an argument?
Enquiring minds would love to know............................
Have a great day Dav4
Now for some serious weeding
Good Day
Anthony
]
Dude,I do all of that and create art as well. Doubly delicious!@Dav4 [ a play on Rav4 by any chance ?]
As I explained I like to read and I often read at Universities and thus often more deeply.
The approach to Bonsai, is simply because the views down here are closer to the original
Chinese scholar approach to the growing of these trees.
For relaxing the mind and inspiration, not exhibition or trying to turn them into Art Forms,
because they outgrow the designs and thus why the research has turned to Holograms.
So that the design can be presented more along the lines of an oil painting and stand
as an example of excellence for let's say an eternity.
Hey, we water by hand, and it allows a very personal connection to each plant.
Weeding gives you chance to really observe what is happening to the plant.
The idea behind looking after something is simply ------- Love.
Making the soil, the pots, even the tools represent personal effort.
Growing from seed /cutting, to do from the very beginning is also a sign of deep Love.
We throw it out as being cheap, but anyone able to - See -- will tell you that is the
highest level of dedication to what you are doing.
It is just easier to satisfy Joe Average by saying ---------- we are cheap.[ Where is Mike for
the BS answer
Common sense ------ creating a Yi Xing type pot requires science and art.
Clay is found, cleaned, and processed. Often samples pre-fired to determine contractions,
so you end up with the shape designed to the inch or cm if you prefer.
Glazes are designed to fit expansions, and designed from scratch, not bought in a
jar.
Just to give that tree it's special home.
And the pots are hand built, not wheel turned.
So yeah, we are different and restrictive, if you want to think so.
We also do metal and jewellery casting, metal tools are a breeze for Bonsai.
2 years time it will be 41/40 years in the Hobby and teaching for free.
Still have the earlier efforts, you have seen some of them.
Hope that helps.
Good Day
Anthony
Wow. This approach to bonsai is pretty much opposite to my thinking. I always thought that bonsai got it's start my the Chinese bringing down the naturally dwarf trees from the mountains.
